Learn Dutch: Ook al is de module pittig, wij blijven gemotiveerd. - Even though the module is tough, we stay motivated.

You have a great memory! Normally, starting a sentence with a subordinate clause triggers inversion in the main clause (verb first). However, ook al is a special exception in Dutch. After an ook al clause, the main clause ignores the first part and keeps the standard subject-verb order: wij blijven.

Does ook al also change the word order in its own part of the sentence?

Yes! Normally, linking words like 'although' push the verb to the very end of their clause. But ook al acts like the first position in the sentence, causing inversion (verb-subject) right after it. That is why we say Ook al is de module... instead of pushing is to the comma.

I thought pittig meant spicy. Can it mean 'tough' too?

Exactly! While pittig literally describes spicy food, it is very commonly used in a figurative way to mean tough, demanding, or challenging. When talking about a course, exam, or task, a Dutch speaker will almost always describe it as pittig if it requires a lot of hard work.